THE KING IS DEAD, “SAD DAY FOR FOOTBALL”
Brazilian football legend Pele has passed away at the age of 82, his family confirmed on Thursday afternoon.
The football icon Edson “Pele” Arantes do Nascimento had been battling colon cancer since 2021 and had a tumor removed from the right side of his colon in September of that year. Pele had been undergoing chemotherapy and was admitted to hospital last month with “general swelling,” cardiac issues, and concerns about his cancer treatment not having the desired effect.
Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital, where Pele had been undergoing treatment said he died at 3:27 pm local time “due to multiple organ failures resulting from the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous medical condition.”
A statement from the family read: “Amor, amor e amor, para sempre. Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today.”
“On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”
Pele will be buried at the Santos stadium, Vila Belmiro, where he played for almost all of his career. A funeral has been planned for Monday and Tuesday and Pele’s casket will be carried through the streets of Santos, the coastal city where the careers of many Brazilian footballers began, including Pele and Neymar Jr.
One of the greatest players of all time, Pele changed the game of football with his Brazilian ‘samba’ style of play and his domination of the World Cup in the 1960s. He enchanted fans with his dazzling style of play, dribbling past opponents with remarkable ease and scoring past their goalkeepers with personified elegance. His agent, Joe Fraga, confirmed his death saying simply: “The king has passed.”
Outgoing Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of mourning following news of his death and said that Pele was “a great citizen and patriot, raising the name of Brazil wherever he went.” Pele’s family will honor a request he made before his death, and have his funeral only after incoming President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s inauguration, which will happen on Sunday.
With news of Pele’s passing spreading throughout the globe on Thursday evening and into the night, tributes started to pour in from multiple names in the footballing world. The English FA paid tribute to Pele by lighting Wembley Stadium in London in Brazilian colors while the Brazilian government lit up the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil colors in Pele’s honor.
In tribute to Pele’s passing, the Premier League announced that clubs will hold a minute’s applause prior to kick-off during Matchweek 18 (Dec 30 – Jan 1). Players and match officials will also wear black armbands.
A statement from the Premier League read: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Pele, an extraordinarily gifted footballer who transcended our sport and inspired millions throughout his remarkable career. Our thoughts and sincere condolences go to Pele’s family and friends.”
Everton manager and former England international Frank Lampard commented on Pele’s passing on Friday morning, calling Thursday “a sad day for football.”
“My only memories [of Pele] are pretty much from video footage as a young boy,” Lampard said. “I grew up saying, on a world scale, ‘Maradona was my hero’ because I was able to watch him more. But it was always a matter of fact, almost, that Maradona and Pele had been the greatest… [I have] huge respect for him as a player, and as a person, you think of all the responses since yesterday when we all found out the news. He was a great man, as well as a great player, incredible icon, and one of the greatest, without a doubt. So, sad day for football.”
Two-time World Cup winner and Brazilian legend Cafu said, “Pele will never die. Pele is eternal. He is king. He is unique. He will be eternalized in every magnificent goal, in every masterstroke, in each of us who were inspired by him and his generation.”
“You grew up knowing that Pele, thinking of him as the best player in the world, [the best] the world has ever seen at that moment,” Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said during his presser on Friday morning. “Very, very sad, I think whenever an icon passes away it’s a very sad moment for football. From the initial reaction of everyone connected to football, he is certainly well remembered around the world.”
“Driving in today, I heard a couple of stories on the radio just about how humble and what a lovely guy he was. I think, when you hear of that story attached to his greatness as a footballer, I think it’s a brilliant thing.”
Flags at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich Switzerland flew at half-mast on Friday, as the home of the World Cup paid tribute to arguably the greatest World Cup player ever.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola also commented on the departed Pele, saying, “I never saw him play. I spoke with, for example, [Cesar Luis] Menotti, and he said to me that he was the greatest for him. He played alongside him. What he [Pele] has done, not just winning three World Cups – like how difficult it is – but also the contribution, and goals. He was a ‘new thing’ when he came up.”
“I was not born when he was playing but he’s like a good movie, no? The legacy, when after many, many years, still we are talking about him. Still, we are talking about a good movie, a good book, it’s because he was so good.”
“I think Pele, Maradona, [Johann] Cryuff, Messi, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Cristiano Ronaldo, these types of players will be forever. Will be eternal. They have done many things through many, many years. Not just on the pitch, off the pitch, with their countries, the teams they have played at. And these types of players make our business, our work, our job, a better place.”
Argentina captain and now World Cup winner Lionel Messi sent his condolences after the news of Pele’s death saying simply on Twitter, “Rest in peace, Pele.”
All-time international top goal scorer and Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo said on Instagram: “My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento. A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing.”
“An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today, and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared, even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pele.”
Former United States President Barack Obama also paid tribute to Pele saying on Twitter, “Pele was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him.”
Brazilian winger Neymar Jr. once summed up Pele in a great quote a few years ago, saying that “Before Pele, the no. 10 was just a number and after him, it became something special. Every great player wanted to wear the number 10 [because of him].”
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero